Fall’s fashions draw inspiration from '80s

Many of the back-to-school looks this year will be strangely familiar. If you don’t recall them from last season, check out your high school photo album from the 1980s.

Nancy Reardon

The annual fashion show at South Shore Plaza in Braintree, Mass., featured retro styles in hot pink, metallics and exaggerated patterns. One model even sported a crimped hairdo.

The ’80s were all about excess – think fun accessories – and exaggerated cuts. This year will be no different.

If your teen isn’t ready to sport hair that looks like lasagna noodles, she can still achieve a retro look.

The runway show featured a lot of leggings, but if you’re a parent who believes leggings are best suited for the dance studio, opt for cigarette-cut jeans, most commonly known as the “skinny” jean.

If your teen won’t be caught dead without a pair of leggings, match them with a longer sweater top that ends mid-thigh. This year’s style is all about extremes: long tops matched with short, cropped jackets.

Designers for young kids are having a lot of fun this year with color. It’s not the season for drab black-and-gray ensembles. All that glitters is the way to go, with bright colors and shimmery metallics dominating the racks.

Budget-conscious parents can relax knowing that a lot of staples from seasons past still had a strong showing on the runway. Uggs are still a hot item, and they’re incredibly versatile. They can be worn over or under jeans, or with tights or leggings.

And the brightly-colored plaid flannels that punk stars adorned all winter are still on this year’s racks.

For boys, the show featured some exaggerated preppy looks. Models showed off a lot of trendy collared shirts, worn with the sleeves cuffed and a pair of jeans. The basic vest – a stylish staple for girls and boys – is still a fashionable addition.

Patriot Ledger writer Nancy Reardon can be reached at nreardon@ledger.com.

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